You are here

Johnson County Developmental Supports (JCDS) is the agency of Johnson County government that facilitates career and personal development for Johnson County residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The agency regularly serves more than 500 people each day through a broad array of community-based programs and supports.

Designated as Johnson County's Community Developmental Disabilities Organization (CDDO), JCDS also offers a single point of entry for those seeking DD services, determines eligibility for services, and coordinates a network of over 90 Johnson County providers.

Department News

Our Project SEARCH 2016-2017 class of interns has graduated! Before they left they put together their final newsletter. Take a look to see which class members are already out in the local workforce.

JCDS participating in county's second annual Reverse Job Fair

April 17, 2017

On Tuesday, April 25, local businesses will have the opportunity to tap into a pool of qualified job applicants interested in securing employment. Several Johnson County departments including Human Resources, Johnson County Mental Health, Johnson County Department of Corrections and Johnson County Developmental Supports will host the county’s second Reverse Job Fair.

Unlike a typical job fair where job applicants browse information tables hosted by employers, at the Reverse Job Fair, clients receiving employment coaching or support services from Johnson County will showcase themselves. Approximately 30 job candidates will each have a table with information about his/her skills, experience and interests. Employers can meet with applicants, accept resumes, and even hold on-site interviews. The 2016 Reverse Job Fair attracted organizations including Ikea, Garmin, FedEx and the City of Lenexa.

The 2016-2017 Project SEARCH class continues to achieve success...including two interns starting permanent jobs before even finishing their internships. Read all about it in this newsletter, put together by the interns themselves.

JCDS employee wins national award

April 4, 2017

Forrest Austin, a Direct Support Professional with Johnson County Developmental Supports, received the 2017 National Direct Support Professional of the Year award from The American Network of Community Options and Resources. ANCOR gives this award annually for exemplary work in furthering community inclusion for people living with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities. Judges look at nominees’ success in helping people with disabilities build social networks, participate in the community and advocate for themselves.

Austin has worked as a Direct Support Professional for nine years, four of them with JCDS. Part of his work involves serving as a Project SEARCH employment coach, and he has supported more than a dozen individuals with intellectual disabilities in their efforts to secure and maintain employment.

"When we have people get full-time jobs for $15 an hour who have an intellectual disability, we feel like we are breaking ground," said Austin. "I want that to become the rule and not the exception for the people we serve."

"We rely on DSPs and our staff to create solutions and figure out ways to provide opportunities for our people to be part of the community,” said Chad VonAhnen, executive director, Johnson County Developmental Supports. “Forrest does that every day. He keeps his focus on our clients’ abilities, providing them with choice-driven supports and advocating alongside of them to live and work in the community."

Since 2007, ANCOR has honored exceptional DSPs with the Direct Support Professional of the Year award. The association chose Austin from 245 nominees. ANCOR also named state recipients of the DSP Recognition Award in 41 states, the District of Columbia and Moldova.

"It is a great honor to be recognized in the midst of all this, and I see it as recognition not only for my personal contributions, but to the quality services provided here in the state of Kansas and in Johnson County," said Austin.

New program hopes to help nearly 100 people find jobs in the community

February 15, 2017

Johnson County Developmental Supports hopes to help nearly 100 people with an intellectual or developmental disability find a competitive job in the community over the next five years. This lofty but achievable goal is due to JCDS receiving a $1.2 million grant called “End Dependence.” The Kansas Rehabilitation Services division of the Kansas Department for Children and Families awarded JCDS the grant, and the funding will go towards serving 120 people in a progressive employment, or internship-model program, with the goal of securing competitive employment for 80 percent of participants.

The community employment team at JCDS is seeking both business and individuals to participate in the End Dependence program.

For businesses

All Kansas City employers are invited to get in touch with JCDS to find out about being an End Dependence host site. JCDS will work with businesses such as hospitals, hotels, retail establishments, industrial settings, warehouses to set up temporary internships lasting at least four weeks. Individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability can gain some work experience, learning a job’s specific skills and requirements as well as some of the softer skills necessary to work in the community. Interns’ wages will be paid by Vocational Rehab.

JCDS is looking for people over 18 who have been deemed eligible for I/DD services by the Johnson County Community Developmental Disability Organization (CDDO.) Ideally, participants should have no prior work experience, or have worked but have experienced some challenges with community employment.